St. Thomas Aquinas – Priest and Doctor

I realize that I have not, as of yet, succeeded in what I had hoped to do, which is blog regularly. I think a great place to begin rectifying that reality is recognizing that today is the feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas. Thomas is one of the most shining examples of the deep relationship between theology and liturgy, as one who wrote some of the most enduring theological works in history, all of which came in the midst of being deeply formed by the liturgical life of the church, especially the Eucharist. Thanks be to God for St. Thomas.

One way that Thomas regularly helps to shape my life as a Christian is that I regularly use his “Prayer Before Study” from The Aquinas Prayer Book before a Bible study I lead at the church I serve, and I thought I would share that today in honor of Thomas:

Ineffable Creator,
Who, from the treasures of Your wisdom,
have established three hierarchies of angels,
have arrayed them in marvelous order
above the fiery heavens,
and have marshaled the regions
of the universe with such artful skill,

You are proclaimed
the true font of light and wisdom,
and the primal origin
raised high beyond all things.

Pour forth a ray of Your brightness
into the darkened places of my mind;
disperse from my soul
the twofold darkness
into which I was born:
sin and ignorance.

You make eloquent the tongues of infants.
Refine my speech
and pour forth upon my lips
the goodness of Your blessing.

Grant to me
keenness of mind,
capacity to remember,
skill in learning,
subtlety to interpret,
and eloquence in speech.

May You
guide the beginning of my work,
direct its progress,
and bring it to completion.

You Who are true God and true Man,
Who live and reign, world without end.